Louisville Slugger Prime 918
The Louisville Slugger Prime 918 is one of the most complete bats in the game. By this, I mean that it has all-around greatness, instead of meant for only power hitters or contact hitter. If you are an in-between hitter, this is the one for you. Also, with the 2018 version there are some cool features that I know you guys will like, so let’s get into it.
For all of you wondering if you should trust Louisville Slugger, you should. From personal experience, I can say that Louisville Slugger is one of the best baseball bat manufacturers in the world. Many MLB players trust Louisville Slugger with their careers. Again, awesome bat company and they know what they’re doing.
Design
First off, this bat has a microform composite barrel which is awesome. If you don’t know the powers of composite, there are two things that usually come with it.
One is amazing bat speed, which I believe is one of the main components of a perfect swing. I know you’re thinking well Chris, this is obvious, but a lot of people don’t know about the powers of a fast swing. It is not all about strength, but about technique. This is the same with a lot of sports but with baseball, it really changes your game. The microform part of the barrel makes the bat even lighter, so the bat speed is there in the Louisville Slugger Prime 918.
The other part of a composite barrel is the pop that it brings. I think composite bats outperform all other materials in pop overall. I see composite as rubber, so when you drop a rubber ball or a metal ball which one will bounce higher? The answer is rubber, so I see baseball the same way. Is a baseball going to bounce farther off a rubber surface or a metal surface? I would think the rubber bat would go farther so that’s what I think of composite.
Performance
Like I said before, this bat has some pop to it. Who doesn’t like more pop and bat speed to a baseball bat?
Also with the composite design, the balance of the bat is really center. This makes it easier to swing, and swing faster than you have before. I always was a fan of a light baseball bat, since even the little guys like me can get down with that.
The bat is really comfortable as well since it is a three-piece design. This means that the vibration on bat hits tends to stay in one part instead of going to your hands. Especially with a three-piece bat, even if the vibration is big, it barely makes it past the second piece.
The last cool feature that I like about this bat is the custom lizard skin handle. The color matches the bat so you don’t have to change it if you’re the player that likes doing that.
Conclusion
Overall I really like this bat, and recommend it to the contact hitter. So if you hit to get on base instead of trying to get a double, then this is a perfect fit for you. I know that I really would’ve appreciated the lightness and pop that is included in this bat when I played.
Lets Be Friends!
If this is best used by a contract hitter, How would a power hitter be negatively affected by using this bat ? Also, what Louisville would you recommend for the power hitter? Thanks.
Power hitters would not necessarily be negatively affected by this bat, just it wouldn’t be there flow. I know some players that really get thrown off if they go from a heavier bat to a lighter one. There’s just so much difference in the timing and the feel of the swing.
Even though I say that this bat is meant for a contact hitter, I would say that this model is best made for the power hitter. The feel of the Louisville Slugger Prime 918 is the best I felt out of the new 2018 ones.
My son has the Rawlings 5150 and it seems to lack in pop.
I am considering the DeMarni Vodoo, Murrici cat 7 connect or the Louisville 918. He is currently Play summer ball and will play high school next year. Which requires th BBCOR -3 bats.
Just trying to find the best option for him. Recommendation?
Hey Rick, I am surprised that the Rawlings 5150 is lacking in pop since it’s usually really good in that section. One thing that I want to ask is if it is broken in correctly? (Breaking in is hitting about 200 times and rotating the bat a quarter turn each time).
If it still is lacking the other bat that I can recommend that I think your son would like is the Marucci Cat 7. (https://thebaseballreviews.com/marucci-cat-7-bbcor-baseball-bat-review/)
Make sure you let me know what you guys choose!